Suspending device for lighting fixtures



May 31, 1927. 1,630,745

P. M. HOTCHKIN SUSPENDING DEVICE FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES Filed Aug. 29,1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l m y i 2 J2 V E J3 1 1927. May 3 P. M. HOTCHKINSUSPENDING DEVICE FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES 2 Shets- Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29.1921 Patented May 31, 1927.

untrue STATES PATENT OFFICE...

PAUL M. HOTGHKIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SUSPENDING DEVICE FOR LIGHTING FIXTURES.

Application filed August 29, 1921. Serial No. 496,213.

The present invention has to do with electrical lighting fixtures ot thesuspended type,

and has particular reference to the suspending devices or canopystructures thereo'l.

The"ordinary torin oi suspending device oi thecharacter referred to isditlioult to wire. liluch time and labor are involved in eltccting this,and especially when fitting the canopy in position at the point oil?installation. This is due to the difliculty of threadcluded novel andeiiicient means for locking the fixture-suspending chain to the canopystructure, and thereby to preclude separation of the chain therefromwith consequent possible injury to the fixture.

Other objects and advantages will appear the nature of the improvementsis better understood, the invention consist-ingsubstantially in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finallypointed out in the appended claims.

A practical form of the invention is disclosed herein, but this is notto be taken in a limiting or restrictive sense. Itdelineates to the arta concept of the appropriation of the invention to the purposes forwhich the latter is contemplated.

in the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation oil a lighting fixtureconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale of the canopyconstruction disclosed in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional View, as on the line 3--3, Fig. 2. I

Fig. lis a sectional plan view as on the line d l, Fig. 2. p Fig. 5 is atransverse sectional view of the chain support, on the line of sectionof Fig.

2, portions being omitted to disclose more clearly the interiorconstruction otthe support.

.lrlelerring now in detail to the accompany suspending chain commonly"found in indirect lighting fixtures oi' the suspendedtype. This isconnected at 1ts lower end to-the usualsocket shell 11 in which theilluminating element 12 is positioned, and from which a plurality ofdownwardly extending supporting arms 13 are projected for sustainingthebowl lit in associated relation with the socket shell 11. The chainis connected to the canopy structurelo, and it is the latter with whichthe present invention is more directly concerned. Referring, therefore,to l igs. 2, 3 and 4t, the features of this structure will be morereadily apparent. The

same includes the usual suspending device 16' commonly found in anoutlet box 17 into which the circuit wires (not shown) are led.Associated with the suspendingdevice 1.6 is

a threaded bushing 18 to which is connected a coupling 19, and depcnding from the lower end of said coupling is a threaded bolt 20. To thelower end of the bolt 20 is detachably connected a chain support 21.This is commonly known in the art as the hickey. The upper end of thechain support 2lis provided with a screw threaded bore 22 into which thelower end of the bolt 20 is fitted, and. alter the support 21 has beenscrewed on. to the bolt 20 to the required extent a lock nut 23 istightened upon the support 21 to prevent turning of the latter.

The lower end of the chain support 2L is cut out to provide a downwardlyopening slot 24 which is of relatively large width in order to receivethe upper link of the chain 10 and to permit this link freely to enterthe same. Hit substantially the mid-portion of the support 21 the sameis reduced in diameter to provide a shouldered boss 25the exterior ofwhich is screw threaded, and mounted on said boss 25 is a retaining ring26 having an annular bead 27 which forms a support for the lower end ofthe canopy 2S.

Loosely mounted in the support 21, and extending transversely of theslot 24 thereof at point adjacent to the top 01. said slot, is asuspending pin 29. The length of this pin is slightly less than thediameter of the boss ing drawings, the numeral 10 designates the 25, sothat the ends of the pin 29 lie within the boss and are adapted to becovered by the retaining rlng 26 when this 1s applied to the boss, Thusthe pin 29 is prevented be thereof openingat the sides the support 2t,while their ltnrer ends, and a portion oi each passage, extend intocoinnuniication with the slot 2%, it Regardless, therefore, of the factthat the chain 10 is connected to the supportill by the pin flihit ispossible tor one of the current leads. 30, to be lilli'tbtttlGEll; intothe lower end of each of the passages 31 and to be pushed upwardlytherethrmigh into the space normally enclosed by the canopy This, ofcourse, is effected before the canopy has been pushed up, into iti posetion next to the ceiling or other point troni .which thelir'cture issuspendmi, and when the current leads Btlhave been thus threadedtheyinayho easily connected to the circuit wires at the outlet box 17.Attertlns has i been done the-canopy 28 is pushed up into position, andthe retaining ring it screwed upon the boss 25,7111 wl'nclrposition theannular head 27 thereof engages the lower end of the canopy 28 and holdsthe latter n 13051 tion.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the hereindescribed invention provides a canopy construction which is constructedand designedlo fttcllllldtfl the general assembly of the parts andlbywhich,

afterthe fixture has been supended from the canopy structure, thecurrent leads of the fixture may be easily and quickly, threaded intothe, canopy for connection with the circuit wires at the outlet boxnFin-thew anore, the invention provldes a construction by which thefixture-Snspending chain otficiently locked to the canopy structure so.

as to be precluded from becoming separated therefrom, and this preventsAn ury to the fixture due to separationot suchchain tron' the canopystructure. y:

11 claim: y

1. In a canopyconstruction for lighting fixtures, the combination with asuspensory device, of a chain support connected thereto,

said support being provided atits lower end with a downwardly openingslot for receiving the suspending chain of the fixture, said supportalso being provided with diagonally disposed passages therethrough forreceiving the current leads of the fixture and to, permit theirthreading through the support while ocoyme the suspending chain isengaged therewith, one of said passages being arranged at each side oisaid slot and having its lower end in connrulnication therewith and itsupper end opening at the exterior of said support.

2. In a canopyconstruction for lighting fixtures, the combination with asuspensory device, of a chain support connected thereto, said supportbeingprorided at its lower end with a downwardly opening slot for receiring the sizspencliiigcliain oi thefixture, said support also beingprovided with diagonally (hsposed passages therethrough for recciwlngthe currentleads of the fixture and to permit their threading throughthe support while the suspending chain is engaged thcrc-- with, one ofsaid passages being arranged at ezuthside of said slot and havingitslowciy end in tfUl'Ullltl'fliCililiOlt therewith and upper end openingat the exterior otsald support, means for (.letaclmbly engaging thechain with mid support, and means for lock:

ing said engaging means in the support.

In a canopy construction for lighting lintures, the combination with asuspeusoryj device, of a chain support connected thereto,

a chain associated with said support, a pin; loosely mounted n saidsupport and now; which the and chain is suspendcchand means associatedsans-nu supportrlor locking said pin against displacement.

l in a canopy construction toaligliting fixtures, the combination with asuspensoiy device, of a chainsupportconnected thereto, aichainassociated with said support, a pin displace ably mounted therein anddetaclr abl" connecting said chain to the support, and a retaining ringdetachably connecteril to said support and co-operating therewith toprevent displacement oithe pin from the support to lock the chain to thesupport.

5, In "a lighting fixture of the class described, the combination with asus Jensory device, of a chain supportconnecte thereto, a fixturechainassociated with said sup port, a pin displaceably mounted in the support and detachably connecting said chailn to the support, a canopysurrounding the support and said suspcnsory device and a retaining ringdetachably connected to said I support and (lo-operating therewith toprevent c'iisplaceinent ot the pin from thesup port to lock the chain tothe support, said retaining ring having means adapted to engage thecanopy to hold the same in applied position. i i

G. In a lightin fixture of the class described, the combination with asuspensory device, of a chain support connected thereto, a nature chainassociated with said support, aipin displaceably mounted in thesupportand detachably connecting said chain to the supper-La canopy surroundingthe support and said suspensory, device, and a retaining ring detachablyconnected to said support and co-operating therewith to preventdisplacement of the pin from the support to lock the chain to thesupport, said retaining ring having an annular bead adapted to engagethe lower end 01 the canopy to hold the latter in applied position.

7. In a canopy construction for lighting fixtures, the combination witha suspensory device, of a fixture support connected thereto and providedwith a downwardly-opening slot for receiving the suspending ele-v mentof the fixture, a pin loosely mounted across said slot for detachablyconnecting the suspending element to said support, and means coveringthe ends of said pin and obstructing movement thereof for preventingdisplacement of the pin from .thesupport, whereby to lock the suspendingelement to said support.

8, In a canopy construction for lighting fixtures, the combination witha suspensory device, of a fixture support connected thereto and providedwith a downwardly-opening slot for receiving the suspending element ofthe fixture, a pin loosely mounted across said slot for detachablyconnecting the suspending element to said support, said pin being ofless length than the transverse dimension of the support, whereby theends of the pin terminate short of the sides of the support when the pinis positioned in the latter, and a retaining ring associated with saidsupport and covering the ends of the pin to obstruct outward movementthereof for preventing displacement of the pin from the support, wherebyto lock the suspending element to said support.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto PAUL M HOTCHKIN.

subscribed my

